The fight is on for the South and the Caspian. In order to keep all
this area (and we can keep it!) we need several light destroyers
and a couple of submarines (ask Artyom about the details). I implore
you, break down all obstacles and so facilitate the immediate
delivery of what we request. Baku, Turkestan and the North Caucasus
will be ours (unquestionably!), if our demands are immediately met.

Things at the front are going well. I have no doubt that they will
go even better (the Cossacks are becoming completely demoralized).

Warmest greetings, my dear and beloved Ilyich.

Yours, Stalin
August 31, 1918

(1) On receiving J.V.Stalin's letter, V.I.Lenin deleted the
superscripsion and subscription and sent it to Petrograd as his
personal directive.